Centrifugal casting-machine



vc. F. BLOOM. CENTRl'FUGA-L CASTINGAVIACHl-NE.

APPLICATION EILED FEB. 7. 1920.

Patented 1060 20, 1921.

F- F- H 4 s T F- E H s 3 l/WE/IITOR Y WITIJESSES Arm/mus CJF. BLOOM.

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE.

APPIICATION FILED FEB. I. 1920 LQOQHL Patented Dev. 2%, 1921'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I l/WE/VTOR Charles FIB/00111.

? I ATTORNEYS. V

WITNESSES C. F. BLOOM. CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE.

' APPUC AT ION FILED FEB 7; 1920. 1,409,570

Patented Dec. 26 19211.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- niliil Cfiarles E 100122.

trifugal motion as soon CHARLES FRANCIS BLOOM, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2t), 1921.

Application filed February 7, 1920. Serial No. 356,898.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BLooM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal 1 Casting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metal casting apparatus, it being adapted more particularly for casting in dental laboratories, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

The foremost object of the invention is to provide a preferably hand-operated casting machine, wherein the molten metal is forced into thecrevices of the mold by centrifugal action.

The same object of the invention more specifically stated, consists in the provision of a hand-operated casting machine for dental purposes, wherein the flask or mold containing the molten metal is first elevated in the vertical part of a subsequently semi-circular track, being gradually thrown outwardly along a spiral line until it reaches the end of said track where it is subsequently spun in a circle so as to force the metal into the crevices by virtue of the centrifugal action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose driving connection in the extensible driving shaft, for the purpose of permitting the flask to begin assuming its cenas the casting arm begins to travel in an arc, as more fully explained below.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for releasing the main gear from the casting arm after the casting arm has reached the casting position at the end of the semi-circular track, so that the main gear may operate to spinthe flask in a circle as described above, said means consisting of long and short lugs on the gear, and a cam-actuated latch on the cast- 1ng arm.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved casting machine, showing the casting arm and flask in'the normal or starting position,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the frame, all cooperating parts being removed,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the main gear, illustrating the relative positions of the gearcarried lugs and the arm-carried latch, the shorter lug operating to raise the arm through the connection of said latch,

Fig. 4 is a similar View of the main gear showing the casting arm-latch approaching the frame-carried cam,

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the main gear showing how the latch is disengaged from the short lug by engagement with the aforesaid cam, so that the main gear can continuously rotate free of the latch and the now stationary casting arm,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section showing the parts in the casting position, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a detail cross section taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the main gear, illustrating the long and short lugs referred to above, and

Fig. 9 is a detail diagrammatic perspective View showing how the long lug trips the latch in passing.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame 1, to be aflixed to a bench or other suitable place, provided with a central jour nal 2 and a semi-circular track 3, the major portion of which is concentric with the j ournal 2 but the left extremity extending tangentially therefrom so as to provide the vertical starting portion 4. The circular part of the track occupies approximately 225 of a circle, terminating at the right in a rounded end in which the guide. roller 5 of the extensible end 6 of the casting arm 7 reclines when the final spinning or casting position is reached. 1 i

The journals, or more properly designated bearings, support a main shaft 8, which is fixed therein by the means 9, and has a head 10 to prevent the main bevel gear 11 from coming off. The main gear has a handle 12, by which the gear is rotated on the fixed main shaft 8, the casting arm 7 having an extension 13 which has bearing on that portion of the shaft between the members 2 of the frame, as clearly shown in F ig. 6.

A circular portion 14 of the end 6 occupies a corresponding bore in the arm 7 so that the end 6 may slightly extend as the as soon as the circular part 3 0 the track guide roller 5 rides from the circular track 3 into the vertical portion 4 upon the return ,/curs by centrifugal action, as the reader will readily understand. The turning of the shaft 16 is accomplished by means of the main gear 11, already mentioned, its companion driven pinion 19, the two-part extensible drivingshaft20, and the meshing gears 21, 22 respectively carried by the v shafts 20 and 16, The frame 3 includes a rest 3 in which the shaft 16 is spun in the final casting position.

' A sleeve 23, fixed to the right shaft end in Fig. 6, covers the overlapping split ends of the extensible driving shaft. This sleeve is located between the lugs 24, 25, respectively on the arm 7 andextension end 6, in which the shaft 20 is journaled. The driving pinion 19 is loose on .its shaft, but it has a tooth 26 engageable with a similar tooth 27 on a collar integral with the adjacent portion of the shaft, for the'purpose of perfecting the necessary driving engagement. This tooth arrangement is in effect a clutch, the purpose of the loose play being to permit the flask 17 to commence its centrifu al motion is entered, because up to the time when the final dotted line casting position is reached in Fig.;1,the main gear 11 is locked in con nection with the casting arm 7 bymeans of the. latch 28, so that no turning of the drivin pinion 19 can result until that-latchis re eased. I

The, raising-bf the flask .17 along the 'straightportion a-of the line indicating the path of movement of the flask in Fig. 1, is traversed quickly enough, so that bythe time the circular track 3 is reached, the' centrifugal-.motion or outward throwing of the flask will be commenced. It is therefore necessaryto make provision for this tendency, and this provision consists in the loose clutch arrangement just described. The tooth 27 departs from the tooth 26 and is enabled to make substantially a full revolution. of the shaft 20, so that ample play for the centrifugal orthrowing motion of the The latch 28 is pivoted at 2 9 in the pocket 30 of the arm 7, the inner end extending into the adjacent opening which is entered by v the cam 31 ofthe frame 1 when the final casting position is reached,'t o slightl rock i the latch and disengage its outer hea from the short conveying lug 32. This displacesections.

co-ntinues. to turn the *spinning the flask 17in the circle 0, until he ment of the head of the latch is not sufficient to move it out of registration with the longer returning lug 33, both of which lugs are cast integrally on the inside of themam gear 11 as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

Pressing against the latch 28 is a leaf spring 34. This spring returns the latch to its-normal position so that its head returns between the two lugs as shown for example in ,Fig. 3, and also permits a slight additional movement of the latch each time the rounded under portion of the returning lug 33 strikes the head of the latch, this occurcarried parts, is indicated in full lines at the left-of Fig. 1. It is while in this positionof the flask 17, that the metal is melted in a crucible-shaped depression in the top of the flask.

Consider Fig. 3. The short conveying lug 32 is disposed beneath the latch 28, the head ring once in every revolution of the main of which is then between the lugs 32, 33.

The operator grasps the handle 12 andturns toward the right. The lug 32 causes the lifting of the casting arm 7, the guide roller 5 moving-through the vertical portion 4 of the track. The telescopic portion 14 of the end 6 of the-casting arm 7 is so provided that the vertical. portion" ,4 of the track may 26 permitting this movement'of the flask,

which terminates in the'spinning zone 0 in Fig. 1. No turning of the driving pinion 19 through the main gear 11 can result until the latch 28 is moved from between the lugs 32-33, this particular connection being the means whereby the casting arm 7 is conveyed from one to the other extreme position.

But as soon as the dotted line position in Fig. 1 is neared, the fixed cam 31 is engaged by the inner end of the latch, causing that latch to rock on its pivot 29 so thatits outer head is dis laced from between the two lug t is now easy to see that the operator may continue to turn the handle 12 in'the clockwise direction because the short conveying lug 32 will pass without striking the head of the latch. V v

Of course the longer latchis still in the way, butits rounded under portion" simply ,glides over the head of the latch, causing it to give against the tension of the spring 34-, and. thereby easily pass. The operator andle 12, thereby readily be traversed by the guide roller, as

thinks the molten. metal is perfectly impressed in all of the crevices of the mold.

He thereupon reverses the operation, turning the handle 12'toward the left or in the counterclockwise direction, whereupon the returning lug 33, being still in coincidence with the head of the latch 28, lifts the castin original position. As soon as suflicient lifting movement has been gone through, the inner end of the latch 28 escapes the cam 31, and when the friction between the lug 33 and the head of the latch is sufliciently reduced, the spring 34 forces the head back to its original position between the two lugs.

While the construction and arrangement of the improved centrifugal casting machine as herein described and claimed, is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the'claims.

I claim 1. Casting apparatus, comprising means carrying a flask with a mold in top of which metal is melted, and means on which it is operated to spirally approach a stopping po sition for the carrying means and spinning position for the flask.

2. Casting apparatus, comprising means carrying a flask with a mold and molten metal, means for moving said carrying means to a casting position, and means associated with said moving means. then becoming operative to spin the flask in a circle.

3. Casting apparatus, comprising an arm carrying a flask with a mold and molten metal, arm-associated flask-rotating means, including locking means enabling the raising of the arm and flask from an initial loading position to a secondary casting position; and relatively fixed means thendisplacing said locking means to permit spinning of the flask through the then freed rotating means.

4. Casting apparatus, comprising an arm initially located, carrying a flask with a mold and molten metal; arm-carried flaskrotating means, with independently mounted actuating means, including means by which the latter is normally locked to the arm to enable bodily conveyance .of all the' foregoing to a secondary casting position; and means stationarily located at that position, for displacing the locking means to permit I subsequent spmning ofthe flask through the actuating and rotating means.

5. Casting apparatus, comprising a flaskcarrying arm, and a main gear, each separately mounted; flask-rotating means on the arm and actuated by the gear, an arm-carried latch locking the gear and rotating means from movement relative to the arm during initial revolution of the gear to convey all of the foregoing to a secondary casting poarm 7 and returns the flask 17 to the sition; and means stationarily located at that position, displacing the latch to free the gear from the arm thenstationarily located, and permit subsequent spinning of the flask through the rotating means and continued turning of the gear.

6. Casting apparatus, comprising a flaskcarrying arm, with flask rotating means including a loose driving pinion; a separately mounted meshing driving gear, locked to the arm by an arm-carried latch, to prevent gear and pinion movement relative to the arm during initial revolution of the gear to convey the foregoing parts to a casting position; and a clutch tooth connection between the driving pinion and its associated rotating means permitting commencement of the flask-rotating function before the casting position is reached, and the gear is latchreleased for subsequent rotation.

7. Casting apparatus, comprising movable arm-carried flask carrying and rotating means, with actuating means normally locked to the arm; and a pinion also normally locked from operating said rotating 90 means, loosely associated and having a normally open clutch arrangement enabling voluntary initial turning of said rotating means so that the flask may traverse a spiral line toward the final spinning and casting position at the end of the arm movement.

8. Casting apparatus, comprising a frame with a circular track, a flask, a flask-carrying arm having a guide roller normally occupying one end of the track, with an associated gear, each separately mounted on the frame; arm-carried flaslcrotating means, with a relatively loose driving pinion meshing with the gear; and including an armcarried latch locking the gear and pinion from movement relative to the arm during conveyance to the final casting position at the end of the circular track; and fraIne' carried means then displacing the latch topermit the continuance of gear revolution 11o and spinning of the flask in a zone radually approached along a spiral line in following the track, through the loose connection of said driving. pinion with its associated rotating means.

9. Casting apparatus, comprising a frame with a circular track including a vertical part, a flask, a. flask-carrying arm having a guide roller normally occupying the vertical part, with an associated rately mounted on the frame; arm-carried flask-rotating means, with a relatively loose driving pinion meshing with the gear; and including an arm-carried latch locking the gear and pinion from movement relative to the arm during conveyance to the final casting position at the end of the circular track; frame-carried means 'then displacing the latch to permit the continuance of gear revolution and spinning of the flask gear, each sepa- 120.

in a zone gradually approached along a spiral line,

through the loose connection of said driving pinion with its associated rotating means, and means located on the frame in the casting position, providing a rest for the then stationary arm during the spinning of the flask. 10. In a casting machine, a frame having a circular track merging with an initially traversed vertical portion, and a casting arm revolubly mounted on the frame, with a portion carrying a guide roller in the track, telescopically mounted for extension when the roller enters said vertical portion.

11. The combination in a casting machine, of-a casting arm arranged to move through a part of a circle, and a flask-bearing end,

bifurcated to straddle a frame portion, with a guide roller occupying a track in said frame, and having a telescopic mounting on the casting arm to enable extension and retraction to follow the track.

12. The combination in a casting machine,

of a casting arm with a lug, an extension end telescopically mounted, with a lug, and end bearings; a casting shaft with a flaskcarrying crank, journaled in the bearings and with a pinion; and a two-part driving shaft journaled in the lugs, one end with a meshing pinion, and a covering sleeve between the lugs, extensible with said telescopic end to continuously maintain the drivin connection. 13. asting apparatus, includ ng a castin arm mounted to move through a part of a circle, with a carriedlatch; and an actuating gear having lugs with which the latch initially has locking engagement, for initially conveying the arm as stated through revolution of the gear.

14. Casting apparatus, including a casting -arm mounted to move through a part of a circle, with a carried latch; an actuating portin gear having lugs with which. the latch in itially has locking engagement, for initially conveying the arm as stated through revolution of the gear, and relatively stationarily located means for displacing the latch, permitting continued revolution of the gear while the casting arm remains stationary.

15. Casting apparatus, including a castingarm, with a spring-extended latch; an actuating gear, with long and short lugs between which the extended latch engages, for conveying the arm through part of a gear-revolution to a final casting position; and a cam relatively stationary at said position for retracting the latch sufliciently to clear the short lug and permit continued revolution of the gear, said latch springing over the long lug when coming in contact once every revolutlon.

16. The combination in a casting machine,

of a casting arm witha latch, and an operatively associated actuating gear, with. a short lug conveying the arm to a casting position by engagement with one side of the latch, and a long lug returning the arm to an initial position by engagement with the otherside of the latch.

17. Casting apparatus, comprising supmeans having a track occupying part 0 a circle, with a rest adjacent one end; and means mounted on said support-With parts moving in said track, for conveying a flask in the direction of the track, terminating at said rest for subsequent rotation.

18. Casting apparatus, comprising supportin means having a track extending over part 0 a circle, with a rest adj acent'one end;

radially extending means for c rrying a" flask, guided in said track; and means at the track-center where said means is journaled,

for conveying it along the track to said rest for subse uent spinninlg. 4

C ARLES F ANGIS BLOOM. 

